Dos and don’ts to follow after a breast augmentation surgery

Follow these instructions to get the best results.

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Written By: Debjani Arora | Published : March 30, 2018 8:41 PM IST

Whether you are going for a breast implant or a breast reduction surgery, there are a certain set of dos and don'ts you need to follow after you undergo a breast surgery. Here Dr Viral Desai, Celebrity Cosmetic Surgeon, DHI India & CPLSS India, list down a few:

Dos

  • Follow the instructions given by the surgeon
  • Your body needs rest so that it has the energy to heal.
  • Sleep on your back in a semi-reclining position. Sleeping flat on your back puts pressure on your chest. A semi-reclining position releases some of this pressure so that you can rest without injuring your breasts. Use pillows to keep you propped up.
  • Wear the compression garment provided for you. This will reduce swelling and help your body to heal.
  • Call the surgeon right away if you experience any complications. These could include shortness of breath, chest pain, bleeding, infection, and fluid accumulation.
  • Take medications as prescribed, especially antibiotics. Antibiotics are essential for healing, and pain medications can help you deal with any discomfort during the first few days after surgery.
  • Attend your postoperative appointments. The surgeon will closely monitor your body's healing process to ensure that all is going well.
  • Drink plenty of fluids, especially clear fluids. Fluids help your body to heal.
  • Eat healthy foods. A healthy diet will give your body the essential vitamins, minerals, and nutrients it needs to heal.

DON'T

  • Exercise for four-six weeks. Doing so could cause injury and interfere with the healing process and possibly cause your incisions to tear and the implants to dislodge.
  • Overexert or be rough with your incisions.
  • Lift your arms above your shoulders or wear shirts that you must pull over your head for at least two weeks. Choose loose, button-up shirts that you can easily put on without risk of hurting your incisions. You may need to have someone help you wash your hair during these two weeks so that you do not lift your arms up too high.
  • Eat a lot of salt. Too much sodium causes swelling and bloating, which you want to avoid after surgery.
  • Drive or drink alcohol for at least 24 hours. You should avoid driving and avoid drinking alcohol until you no longer need pain medication.
  • Take a bath or allow your incisions to get wet before they have healed. Showering is acceptable according to the timeline given to you by the surgeon
  • Sleep on your stomach or side. Sleeping on your stomach or side could lead to serious complications.
  • Smoking interferes with circulation and should be avoided as much as possible during recovery.
  • Don't wear underwire bras: After surgery, you will likely be sent home wrapped in gauze and surgical dressing, which will be removed after a few days. At this point, you should wear a recovery or soft cup bra, like a sports bra, until you are fully healed. The wires in underwire bras are restricting and can irritate the sensitive breast tissue during healing which may keep the implants from settling. Wait until you are fully healed and have the go-ahead from your surgeon to start wearing underwire bras.

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